Clothesline-holder



G. A. HOPKINS.

CLOTHESLINE HOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR 26, 1921.

1,397,05 1 Patented Nov. 15, 1921.

unites STATES GORDON ALBERT HOPKINS, 0F BRADFORD, PENNSYLVANIA.

GLOTI-IESLINE-HOLDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 15, 19211.

Application filed March 26, 1921. Serial No. 455,941.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, GORDON ALBERT Hor- KINS, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at 96 Main street, Bradford, in the county of McKeanand State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Clothesline-Holders, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention has relation to certain new and useful improvements inclothes line holders and fasteners, and the object of this invention isto provide a novel form of clothes line fastener to which the ends orany intermediate portions thereof may be firmly and promptly securedwithout the use of knots or other means of making fast by tying.

Another use to which this invention may be adopted is in itsadaptability as a head for a clothes line prop for maintaining asuitable elevation of the biglit of the clothes line intermediate of itsfixed points of suport.

p Another object of this invention is to provide a clothes line fastenerand support, which will be extremely simple in construction, strong anddurable, and inexpensive to manufacture.

Briefly described, my invention consists in an improved clothes lineholder comprising a form of double hook having a shank provided withscrew threads thereon, adapted to be inserted into a wooden support in amanner well known in the art, intermediate of the curved extensionsforming the double hook, and at right angles thereof, are two upwardlyextending integral prongs whose contiguous surfaces are spaced apart inan increasing degree with their extensions therefrom, forming a V-shaped space intermediate thereof.

In placing the clothes line or rope into holding engagement with myimproved line fastener, the bight of the rope is laid in the V-shapedopening between the upwardly projecting prongs and each end is leddownwardly through the area partially encircled by each of the curvedextensions of the double hook members. The application of draft oneither end of the rope will cause a gripping contact with the rope bythe projecting prongs intermediate of which the rope passes, and causethe line or rope to be firmly held when the same is drawn taut. Thesimplicity of the construction of my improved clothes line fastener, andthe merits of the same will be apparent from the following description,and as the invention is more fully understood.

Reference will now be had to the accompanying drawings wherein Figure lis a vertical sectional view of the line holder inserted into a support.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the same showing the applicat on of a linethereto.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the holder.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view showing the application of a line thereto.

Fig. is a view of the device applied to the end of a clothes line propor intermediate support.

To enable those not conversant with the general construction of myimproved line fastener, I have designated the similar parts throughoutthe several views'by like numerals of reference and which I have hereinillustrated in the accompanying drawings, the preferred use to which myinvention is applicable, it being obvious that the same is susceptibleof use for other purposes wherein it is desired to form a fastening fora rope that may be easily and quickly detached.

The line holder as contemplated by me, consists as illustrated in thedrawings of a single casting or drop forging, and the reference numeral1 designates the shank which is screw threaded into any support as at 2.At the outer terminal of the threaded portion of the shank 1, is theflange member 3 adapted for a bearing contact with the plane of thesupport 2. Extending outwardly from the flange 3, is the arm 4, at theouter terminal of the arm 4, is a T shaped formation, with theextensions thereof terminating in the hook members 5 and 5 curvinginwardly in the same horizontal plane toward the arm 4.

Projecting upwardly from the outer extensions of the arm 4, are twocompanion prongs 6 and 6. These projecting prongs form importantfeatures of this invention, as they constitute the primary factors ofthe line holding or gripping means, and for that purpose they are soformed that they have their inner edges V shaped in cross section, withtheir apex edges contiguous to each other, being joined at their base,and

diverge with the upward extension of the prongs, forming an acute angleof divergence.

t will be obvious to those skilled in the art, that any line or rope ofa reasonable size adapted to be applied to the fastener, interposedbetween the prongs 6 and 6, with the extended ends rove through the hookmembers 5 and 5, will upon the application of draft to either extendedend of the rope, causea gripping hold to be attached to that part of theline interposed between the prongs 6 and 6.

As herein before referred to, my improved line holder may be adapted tobe used as a clothes pole tip,by the insertion of the shank 1 into theend of the clothes line prop 2 as shown in Fig. 5, and when so used, itwill prevent the accidental dislocation of the clothes line from thepole tip, when the line is applied in the manner indicated.

While I have shown in the accompanying drawings the preferred form of myinvention, it will be understood that I do not limit myself to theprecise form shown, for many of the details may be changed in form orposition without affecting the operativeness or utility of my invention,and I therefore reserve the right to make all such modifications as areincluded within the scope of the following claims or of mechanicalequivalents to the structures set forth.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. A clothes line holder comprising a screwthreaded shank having a shoulder integral therewith, a body partextending from said shoulder in a T shaped formation whose outerextremities terminate in horizontally curved line retaining hooks, and apair of vertically projecting prongs extending from said body partadapted to apply a gripping contact to a line placed intermediatethereof, substantially as described.

2. In a clothes line holder, the combination with a body part includingscrew fastening means to a fixed support, of a pair of horizontallydisposed inwardly curved line retaining hooks, adapted to receive aclothes line therethrough, vertically projecting prongs spaced apart onsaid body part and adapted to receive the line intermediate thereof, andhaving diverging contiguous edges adapted to grip the line as draft isapplied thereto, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have aiiixed my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

GORDON ALBERT HOPKINS.

Witnesses F. M. NASH, M. L. JORDAN.

